28 March 2019 | AMANDA RANDO
A GROUP 1 dream has come true for young reinsman Nathan Xuereb.
The 22-year-old has booked not only his first Group 1 drive but two at Bathurst’s Gold Crown Carnival tomorrow night.
Having recently achieved the feat of driving 100 winners, this season is certainly becoming one Xuereb will cherish for a long time.
“It’s very exciting to have two Group 1 drives,” Xuereb said.
“This is something everyone aspires to and to not only get one but two horses qualify for Group 1 races is a dream come true.”
Xuereb’s first taste of Group 1 driving will come when he partners Bella Clare in the Gold Bracelet Final.
The filly is trained by Xuereb’s father Michael and has drawn barrier one for the feature.
“She is a lovely filly that had to do more work in her heat than what I wanted her to do . . . I was still happy with her fourth-placed effort, she wasn’t beaten far,” Xuereb said.
“This week it’s a different story, she has the draw and she won’t have to do any work.
“They will definitely know she is there.
“I just brought her in from the paddock and she is feeling pretty well within herself.”
Xuereb will have his next Group 1 drive a race later when he drives the Katie McGill-trained Katalytic in the Gold Tiara Final.
Also giving McGill her first Group 1 starter as a trainer, Katalytic has drawn barrier seven for the $100,000 test.
“The draw hasn’t made it easy for her but she goes well and truly deserves her place in the Final,” Xuereb said.
“I’ll have to drive her quiet and if the speed is on, she will definitely be thereabouts.”
Before Xuereb heads across the Blue Mountains again, the Londonderry-based horseman will drive for his father at Penrith tonight who has Sams Cam (5) and Redbelly Jack (6) engaged in race five.
Xuereb will drive Sams Cam while Josh Gallagher has been nominated to drive the latter.
Xuereb trains a handful of horses with his father whilst also working as a farrier for big stables including that of Craig Cross.
“I was very fortunate that Craig put me on as a farrier at a young age,” Xuereb said.
“I have been fortunate enough to shoe great horses like For A Reason, Bling It On and Mach Doro.
“I’ve had a lot of glory shoeing horses like that and when Bling It On won the Hunter Cup it gave me a huge thrill, just as much if I drove him to win the race.
“I love what I do.”
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